ABBEVILLE, LA - Abbeville High School Resource Officer Jerath Bessard starts each morning at 6:50 a.m., walking the halls of the school he once attended, now serving as the eyes and ears of campus security.

Bessard, a former narcotics officer, is a familiar and trusted presence in the building. His daily routine is now supported by a new layer of security technology aimed at protecting students and staff.

“This is the camera system right here,” Bessard said, pointing to the school’s surveillance monitors. “This is the hallway on the other side of that secure entrance.”

On Friday, the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the school board, announced it now has remote access to more than 20 school surveillance cameras across the district; a move officials say will enhance

See Full Page